What do you think of when you see a wheelchair, a little child, an older person, a new born calf, or a blind person? Or maybe someone imprisoned, jobless, depressed or addicted. The world, despising weakness, shouts to us to be strong, loud, the best, or dominant in all things. Therefore, weakness is unpopular. From a human perspective, it has no value. But my blog is about winning ways to follow Jesus. So perhaps we can look a few moments at the biblical perspective of weakness and see its value.
At first glance, the Bible has what seems to us as an upside-down view of weakness. I submit that weakness is a Christian’s best position. Remember that often, the world and the church promote leading with strength.

What does the Bible say?

• “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 –
  • Even though I have a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus His Son, I still don’t know what or how to pray at times. In that weakness, His Holy Spirit, who lives in me, will pray for me. That doesn’t mean I quit praying. I keep talking to Jesus. It means the Spirit knows me and represents me before God the Father, praying for my needs.
• My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 –
  • I know that whether I suffer physically or whether I am depressed or overwhelmed in my heart, God is my strength, and He knows how much of His strength I need.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 – Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
  • There are so many verses about human weakness. On these few alone, I learn that God is alert to my needs and provides His strength and power in the right amounts for my situation. He even does the heavy lifting when I lack words in prayer.
  • As with every good cliffhanger, I wonder what will come of my situation. Jesus longs for me to remain/abide in Him(John 15). Will I trust Him with my life’s unbearable, complex, and unanswerable situations, no matter the outcome? Or will I let my weakness define the situation and become bitter?
• 2 Corinthians 11:30 – If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
  • Paul knew the sinful strength and pride he had lived. With his new heart, to be weak made Paul glad. We can be glad knowing we are entirely in need of God’s help.
• Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

Some quit praying in weakness, but God is not the problem. We can respond to our weakness as Paul did by boasting in the Lord and being glad for our humble state. Of course, a response like this is supernatural and proves God’s strength when weak. I understand and receive God’s pity in my weakness. I become able to pray boldly. He readily gives mercy and grace. I sense God’s availability to my needs. None of these outcomes is weak. We come to Him weak. We become strong.

If churches around the world would grasp the revolutionary truth that Christ’s transforming power always comes through sacrifice and weakness, it would dramatically alter the landscape of the global church. Joni Eareckson Tada

God honors humility and sees our need for His help. He is not looking for strength. As I stated in the beginning, the world and the church swat away weakness and elevate strength. Jesus uses the weak. As Joni states, a weak church would be transformative. And power comes out of our weakness, as stated in His Word.

As the song says, *“His strength is perfect.” On my own, I am not much use to Him and my resources are wobbly and woefully wimpy. Jesus is the yoke bearer(Matthew 28), and He gives us strength, songs(Psalm 40:3, 96:1), goodness, and mercy(Psalm 23).

We can not discuss weakness without looking to Jesus’ example. Was Jesus weak or strong on the cross? The Bible says that because of His obedience, His death attained the

release of God’s power to forgive sins to all who would believe.

Death and sin conquered

and

He was miraculously raised from the dead, victorious.

All through the Bible Jesus shows up for men and women pitifully weak, whether that is weakness in spirit, or physically disabled and Jesus sees and Jesus responds.

So, hopefully you can see that weakness is a condition waiting for the grace, strength, support, and sympathy of our Savior and that it is a winning way!

For further reading, see https://valerierumfelt.com/2024/04/06/3-ways-the-weak-win/

©Valerie Rumfelt

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*Steven Curtis Chapman